Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Raising Wild Birds 
Name: Regina
Status: educator
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
A student just brought me what he believes to be Blue Jay eggs (2). I have candled them and one is alive. I have only hatched chicken and duck eggs, so I do not know how to tell how far along the fetus is. It appears to take up about 2/3 of the shell. The other egg does not appear to be viable, but I have placed it in the incubator anyway until I am sure. What I need to know is what temperature do I need and how long is the incubation period if it is indeed a Blue Jay egg. Do they need to be turned like chicken and duck eggs? When should I stop turning it? Is there a web site you know of that could help me?

Replies:
Yes, they need to be turned just like Chicken eggs. However, you will doom the bird when it hatches for Blue Jays need to have their parents attend to them in order to survive. Wild birds make poor pets as a rule. I would reconsider the entire project. This is why there will not be information on the web.

Steve Sample

Click here to return to the Zoology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory